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Manilla Road
Invasion / Metal
These two discs are being re-issued by Cult Metal Classics 24 and 22 years after their original release. Apparently they are heralded as the original fantasy metal from the pre-Manowar era. I have heard the name before, but never had an opportunity to hear the music.
I have to get in the right frame of mind for this music and try to think of it from the perspective of it having been recorded prior to the release of any records by Manowar and maybe even Iron Maiden.
Thus far this sounds less like heavy metal to me and more like wank-laden classic rock. I think these guys did a lot of drugs, because so far this is very jam-bandish. Almost like an old Ted Nugent song, only without the catchy chorus. Not that Nugemeister was/is a druggy, those were separate thoughts.
Oh god. "Far Side of the Sun" has a reallllllly gay spoken intro that is soooooo Spinal Tap that it isn't even funny. I have to wonder if they heard this when they were writing for the movie. Now I'll only be able to think of them in relation to the mighty Tap.
"Centurian War Games" is kind of cool I guess. It's more like Jethro Tull than heavy metal though.
The "Metal" CD, their second, is a bit more focused and better resembles early heavy metal. If memory serves "Queen of the Black Coast" is likely about the pirate queen Belit, main squeeze of Conan the Barbarian. I was a big Conan geek when I was younger.
The second CD is better than the first, but I am still having trouble shaking the Spinal Tap comparison. This stuff is really pretty cheesy. I'm glad metal has improved since the days of Manilla Road.
TRACKLIST:
The Dream Goes On Cat and Mouse Far Side of the Sun Street Jammer Centurian War Games The Empire Enter the Warrior Defender Queen of the Black Coast Metal Out of Control with Rock n Roll Cage of Mirrors Far Side of the Sun
